Week 1

• Saints + 13: Jim Mora (is he still around?) is 29-14 ATS on grass. When the Saints play the Niners head-to-head, the Saints have covered the spread 5 of the last 7. New Orleans is 5-0 ATS when getting double-digits on the road since 1985. The Saints are 22-12 ATS on the road against a divisional opponent. Speaking of divisions, the visitor in NFC West match-ups is 49-31 (61%) ATS, including 10-2 ATS the last 2 years. Also, the Niners are 2-5 ATS against an NFC team at home. Don't forget, the Saints finished last season on a roll (7-4 SU run), and they’re 6-1 ATS when an underdog on natural turf. Hale looks for the Niners to win the game, but not cover the over-valued spread.

• Arizona / Indy OVER 38: Arizona is 29-14 OVER when playing on artificial turf, including 9-3 OVER when an underdog on the rug. They also happen to be 29-19 OVER when taking a little one-game road trip jaunt.

• Eagles + 1½: Wait! Let me get all you Washington fans really excited first! Are you aware that the ‘Skins are 7-3 ATS the last 10 times they’ve played the Eagles in DC? Oh boy! Now Hale punctures yer bubble: The Redskins are also holders of the worst record in the NFL the last 3 seasons. The ‘Skins, at home, are 4-12 ATS since 1994. As favorites at home, they’re 1-12 ATS since 1992 (including 0-5 ATS & SU in division since 1993). Now, on to Philly: they’re 13-6 ATS on grass in September, and the Eagles are 12-5 ATS in their first away game in the past 17 years. Now that the QB situation in Injun-land is resolved, look for Gus Frerotte to try to avenge last season’s losses to the Eagles. Will revenge be enough? Hale gleefully takes these misplaced points.

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